A man who burgled the home of his 80-year-old grandmother in Marsh on three occasions has been jailed for two years.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday David Holland had been told by his victim not to call at her home anymore and she had written him a letter saying she did not want any more to do with him.

But on May 31 after she left her front door open to let her cat go in and out she found him asleep on the floor in her bedroom.

She told him to leave but he said he was homeless. She could tell he had taken alcohol or drugs but when he asked to use the toilet she let him.

Kirsten Mercer prosecuting told the court the next thing she saw was him bending over the sofa in the living room where she kept her handbag and after he left she found £100 was missing.

Between June 6 and 9 Holland got in again while she was asleep using a key he had taken on that earlier occasion and removed £500 cash and blank cheques from her bag. When officers arrested him later they found the blank cheques at his address but did not recover the money.

He was on bail with a condition not to go to his grandmother’s home when on June 21 she received a phone call from Holland who was upset and half an hour later she heard footsteps and found him walking up the stairs in her hallway.

She tried to push him down again and when she said she would phone the police if he did not leave he unplugged the phone. He then took her bag and stole £750 from her purse.

When his victim realised what had happened she followed him and a neighbour saw her tussling with Holland but he had left before she could go and help.

Police quickly arrested Holland who had bank notes stuffed in his pocket and said he had planned to spend the money on “brown and white” referring to drugs.

His grandmother said she felt “completely betrayed” by his actions.

Felicity Hamlin representing Holland said he was alcohol dependent and took drugs which had motivated his behaviour. She said his remorse was genuine.

“He wants through me to express how very sorry he is. He describes his behaviour as a despicable act against his grandmother.”

She said Holland had moved from Leeds to Huddersfield to look after the pensioner when she was undergoing cancer treatment and “loves her very much.”

He had felt isolated and depressed and at the time of the offences when she had not wanted to see him he was drinking 25-30 units of alcohol a day and had little recollection of events.

Holland, 31 of Vernon Avenue, Edgerton, admitted the three burglaries.

Jailing him Judge Rodney Jameson QC said they were “serious, mean and undoubtedly upsetting” offences for the victim.

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